Feeding Mechanism of a Processing Machine

ABSTRACT

A feeding mechanism of a processing machine comprises a base, a feeding linear actuator, an outer feeding assembly and an inner feeding assembly. The base is disposed at one side of a material feeding path of a processing machine, the feeding linear actuator is disposed in the base, and the arrangement direction of the feeding linear actuator is parallel to the material feeding path of the processing machine. The outer and inner feeding assemblies are orderly assembled to the feeding linear actuator from outside to inside to drive the material respectively, and the driving path of the outer feeding assembly is connected to that of the inner feeding assembly. Such arrangements not only can simplify the structure and increase the working efficiency, but also can reduce the occupied space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a feeding mechanism of a processing machine, and more particularly to a feeding mechanism of a processing machine which is not only can simplify the structure and reduce the occupied space, but also can reduce the idle time and increase the working efficiency.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional feeding mechanism of a processing machine, let's take a punching machine as an example (as shown in FIG. 1), which is usually provided a linear guideway 101 on the right of a table 10 for mounting a movable sliding seat 11 having two feeding devices 12 transversely, and the movable sliding seat 11 includes a linear guideway 111 that is vertical to the linear guideway 101, and the two feeding devices 12 are mounted on the linear guideway 111. At the same time, with the control of a central computer program, the mechanical arm of the feeding device 12 will pick up the material and move it to a lower portion of a punching device 102 of the table 10, and then the punching device 102 will punch the material to form a product. The conventional structure solves the technical problem of automatic feeding, however, it still has the following disadvantages:

Firstly, the above-mentioned conventional punching device 102 of the table 10 includes a motor and a movable sliding block punch driven by a crank device, and the movable sliding block punch is provided for punching the material continuously. Since the material is picked up by only one feeding device 12, the feeding device 12 cannot return to the origin to pick up another material again until one material is punched. As a result, during the idle time the movable sliding seat 11 is moving back to original position and the mechanical arm is picking up the material, the movable sliding block punch is likely to wear off because of more than two or three times of idle punching action.

Secondly, the conventional linear guideway 101 is disposed on the right of the table 10 to drive the feeding device 12 and the movable sliding seat 11, so the occupied space is increased.

In order to improve the above-mentioned problem, another conventional feeding mechanism of a processing machine was developed (as shown in FIG. 2), which is disclosed in Taiwan Pat. No. 092206719. At one side of a working platform 131 of a table 13 is disposed a punching device 132, and another working platform 14 extends from the top of the punching device 132 and is parallel to the working platform 131. On the working platforms 131 and 14 is formed a plurality of Y-axis linear guideways 15 for mounting movable sliding seats of feeding devices 16 and 17 respectively, and the movable sliding seats of the feeding devices 16 and 17 are disposed with a X-axis linear actuator 18 for installation of the left and right mechanical arms respectively. In addition, the CNC computer procedure is provided for controlling the linear servo motor to drive the feeding devices 16 and 17, and the material is initially carried to the punching device 132 by the feeding device 16. When the material is half punched, the feeding device 17 will replace the feeding device 16 to pick up the material, enabling the feeding device 16 to return to the origin position to pick up another material again. Thereby, such arrangements solve the problem of the idle time caused by a single feeding device of the first conventional feeding mechanism of a processing machine, but it still has the following disadvantages:

Firstly, on the working platforms 131 and 14 of the table 13 and the punching device 132 must be formed a plurality of Y-axis linear guideways 15 respectively, such that the number of the expensive elements (such as the linear actuator) is increased. Further, the CNC computer procedure for controlling the linear servo motor is complicated, so the cost is high.

Secondly, on the working platforms 131 and 14 of the table 13 and the punching device 132 must be formed a plurality of Y-axis linear guideways 15 for mounting movable sliding seats of feeding devices 16 and 17 respectively. Moreover, since the moving distance of the feeding devices 16 and 17 includes the upper and lower spaces of the table 13, and at least three linear guideways 15 are located at the left and right of the table 13 and the other table 14, the occupied space is increased.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of a processing machine which can simplify the structure and reduce the cost.

The second objective of the present invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of a processing machine which can reduce the idle time and increase the working efficiency.

The further objective of the present invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of a processing machine which will occupy less space.

A feeding mechanism of a processing machine comprises a base, a feeding linear actuator, an outer feeding assembly and an inner feeding assembly.

The base is disposed at one side of a material feeding path of a processing machine, the feeding linear actuator is disposed in the base, and the arrangement direction of the feeding linear actuator is parallel to the material feeding path of the processing machine. The outer and inner feeding assemblies are orderly assembled to the feeding linear actuator from outside to inside to drive the material respectively, and the driving path of the outer feeding assembly is connected to that of the inner feeding assembly.

The above-mentioned feeding linear actuator is at least disposed with one outer feeding assembly and one inner feeding assembly simultaneously, and the feeding linear actuator can be a ball screw, a linear guideway or a linear motor actuating rail of a multi-section type screw.

Therefore, the present invention can simplify the structure, the outer and inner feeding assemblies can be driven by only one feeding linear actuator, and the driving path of the outer feeding assembly is connected to that of the inner feeding assembly. Further, the present invention can reduce the cost and increase the working efficiency.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a conventional feeding mechanism of a processing machine;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of another conventional feeding mechanism of a processing machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a feeding mechanism of a processing machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of the feeding mechanism of a processing machine in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is another illustrative view of the feeding mechanism of a processing machine in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, a feeding mechanism of a processing machine in accordance with the present invention is disposed at one side of a material feeding path A of a processing machine 60 (such as a punching machine, a cutting machine or a forging machine) and comprises a base 20, a feeding linear actuator 30, an outer feeding assembly 40 and an inner feeding assembly 50, which is characterized in that:

The base 20 is installed in an upper portion of a working table B and is parallel to the material feeding path A of the processing machine 60.

The feeding linear actuator 30 is disposed in the base 20, and the arrangement direction of the feeding linear actuator 30 is parallel to the material feeding path A of the processing machine 60. In a surface of a screw 31 of the feeding linear actuator 30 is formed first threads 311 and second threads 312 located from outside to inside, and the spiraling direction of the first threads 311 is opposite that of the second threads 312.

The outer feeding assembly 40 is assembled to and moved on the first threads 311 of the feeding linear actuator 30, which includes an adjusting linear actuator 41 and a mechanical feeding arm 42. The direction of the adjusting linear actuator 41 is vertical to that of the feeding linear actuator 30, and the mechanical feeding arm 42 is disposed and moved on the adjusting linear actuator 41 to drive a material C.

The inner feeding assembly 50 is assembled to and moved on the second threads 312 of the feeding linear actuator 30, which includes an adjusting linear actuator 51 and a mechanical feeding arm 52. The direction of the adjusting linear actuator 51 is vertical to that of the feeding linear actuator 30, the mechanical feeding arm 52 is disposed and moved on the adjusting linear actuator 51 to drive the material C, and the driving path of the mechanical feeding arm 52 is connected to that of the mechanical feeding arm 42.

For a better understanding of the present invention, its operations and functions, references should be further made to FIGS. 3-5:

When processing, since the base 20, the feeding linear actuator 30, the outer feeding assembly 40 and the inner feeding assembly 50 are disposed on the upper portion of the working table B and are parallel to the processing machine 60 respectively, the present invention not only can effectively reduce the occupied space, but also can effectively increase the working field of view and the working space.

According to the present invention, only one feeding linear actuator 30 needs to be disposed in the base 20, the feeding linear actuator 30 can drive the outer feeding assembly 40 and the inner feeding assembly 50 simultaneously by taking advantage of the first threads 311 and the second threads 312 with opposite spiraling directions, and can make the driving path of the mechanical feeding arm 52 connect to that of the mechanical feeding arm 42. Thereby, as compared to the conventional structure, the present invention can simplify the structure and reduce the cost.

It is to be noted that the present invention also can reduce the idle time, the mechanical feeding arm 42 of the outer feeding assembly 40 is firstly picked up the material C and moved it to the material feeding path A of the working table B. At that time, along with the feeding of the material C, the inner feeding assembly 50 will be moved towards the center of the material feeding path A simultaneously. When the material C is half fed (or the front end of the material C has been processed), the mechanical feeding arm 52 of the inner feeding assembly 50 will replace the mechanical feeding arm 42 of the outer feeding assembly 40 to pick up the material C, enabling the mechanical feeding arm 42 of the outer feeding assembly 40 to return to the origin to pick up another material C again. Thereby, the present invention solves the problem of the idle time caused by the conventional single feeding mechanism, and the connection of the driving paths of the mechanical feeding arm 52 and the mechanical feeding arm 42 of the present invention can save energy.

To conclude, the present invention has the following advantages:

Firstly, the outer and inner feeding assemblies of the present invention are orderly assembled to the same feeding linear actuator from outside to inside, so the present invention can simplify the structure and reduce the cost effectively.

Secondly, the outer and inner feeding assemblies of the present invention are orderly assembled to the same feeding linear actuator from outside to inside, and the base is disposed at one side of the material feeding path of the processing machine, so the present invention can reduce the occupied space.

Thirdly, the arrangement direction of the feeding linear actuator is parallel to the material feeding path of the processing machine, the outer and inner feeding assemblies of the present invention are orderly assembled to the feeding linear actuator from outside to inside to drive the material respectively, and the driving path of the outer feeding assembly is connected to that of the inner feeding assembly, so the present invention can reduce the idle time and increase the working efficiency.

Fourthly, the outer feeding assembly includes an adjusting linear actuator, the direction of the adjusting linear actuator is vertical to that of the feeding linear actuator, and the mechanical feeding arm is moved on the adjusting linear actuator to drive the material. Similarly, the inner feeding assembly includes an adjusting linear actuator, the direction of the adjusting linear actuator is vertical to that of the feeding linear actuator, and the mechanical feeding arm is disposed and moved on the adjusting linear actuator to drive the material. Thereby, the mechanical feeding arms of the present invention can cooperate with a computer to change the positions of feeding and processing.

To summarize, a feeding mechanism of a processing machine comprises a base, a feeding linear actuator, an outer feeding assembly and an inner feeding assembly. The base is disposed at one side of a material feeding path of a processing machine, the feeding linear actuator is disposed in the base, and the arrangement direction of the feeding linear actuator is parallel to the material feeding path of the processing machine. The outer and inner feeding assemblies are orderly assembled to the feeding linear actuator from outside to inside to drive the material respectively, and the driving path of the outer feeding assembly is connected to that of the inner feeding assembly. Thereby, the present invention not only can simplify the structure and increase the working efficiency, but also can reduce the occupied space.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A feeding mechanism of a processing machine, comprising: a base, at least one feeding linear actuator and at least two feeding assemblies, wherein: the base is disposed at one side of a material feeding path of a processing machine; the feeding linear actuator is disposed in the base, an arrangement direction of the feeding linear actuator is parallel to the material feeding path of the processing machine; and at least two feeding assemblies are orderly assembled to the feeding linear actuator from outside to inside to drive materials respectively, and driving paths of the feeding assemblies are connected to each other.
 2. The feeding mechanism of a processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeding assembly includes an outer feeding assembly and an inner feeding assembly; the outer feeding assembly is assembled to and moved on the feeding linear actuator, which includes an adjusting linear actuator and a mechanical feeding arm, the direction of the adjusting linear actuator is vertical to that of the feeding linear actuator, and the mechanical feeding arm is disposed and moved on the adjusting linear actuator to drive a material; the inner feeding assembly is assembled to and moved on the feeding linear actuator, which includes an adjusting linear actuator and a mechanical feeding arm, the direction of the adjusting linear actuator is vertical to that of the feeding linear actuator, the mechanical feeding arm is disposed and moved on the adjusting linear actuator to drive the material, and the driving path of the mechanical feeding arm is connected to that of the mechanical feeding arm of the outer feeding assembly.
 3. The feeding mechanism of a processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeding linear actuator is a ball screw, a linear guideway or a linear motor actuating rail.
 4. The feeding mechanism of a processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing machine is a punching machine, a cutting machine or a forging machine.
 5. The feeding mechanism of a processing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the base is installed in an upper portion of a working table and is parallel to the material feeding path of the processing machine; the feeding linear actuator includes at least one screw, in a surface of the screw of the feeding linear actuator is formed first threads and second threads located from outside to inside, and a spiraling direction of the first threads is opposite to that of the second threads; the outer feeding assembly is assembled to the first threads of the feeding linear actuator; and the inner feeding assembly is assembled to the second threads of the feeding linear actuator. 